"Where to?"

Ultimate Ending

As a quick authors note (sorry) this takes place when they're in their early, mid twentys. Just saying.

Sonny stood near the entrance alone to the fancy restaurant her and some of her co stars had just finished eating at. The rest had stayed behind for the bar for a couple drinks and had asked Sonny to stay, but she declined, saying that she was in for a long day tomorrow and needed her rest. They all nodded nicely and exchanged goodbyes, Sonny giving hugs to a few of them.

As Sonny reached closer to the handle of the door to leave, sudden flashes of film erupted from many cameras in different angles; blurring her vision, Sonny blank a few times closing her eyes so she could get her sight back. As she was getting older, and becoming more famous in the process, more paparazzi showed up on her front door each day. She knew deep down that it was going to happen eventually, but she really didn't think it'd happen like this.

She attempted to take steps forward, more people stood in her way shouting questions about her latest movie that would be premiering this summer and how her relationship with new Hollywood heartthrob Tristan Michael Tate was going.

Sonny covered her eyes from all the constant flashing lights not wanting this to be happening at the moment, especially because she didn't have anyone else with her. Taking more steps to get away from the crowd didn't work, paparazzi continued to trap her in an almost taunting circle looking for answers to their obnoxious questions. She tries to speak up to ask them to move, but instead her voice cracked; clearing her throat she quickly voiced, "Excuse me, please." Sonny wasn't about to scream or shove anyone away because bad publicity is the last thing her career needed, especially with a new movie on the way. If she acted out, TMZ and other Hollywood shows would be all over her like they were with Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan and all the other stars who went wrong.

The paparazzi ignored her plead for the own sake of their jobs; this was the only way of getting their larger pay check. Everyone swarmed around more making Sonny even more claustrophobic. Starting to get panicky, as if she'd never get out, she was on the verge of hyperventilating. Sonny closed her eyes coving them up with her hand in an effort to settle herself down, but her breaths became more and more deep from anxiety, she couldn't take it! She needed to leave, but she couldn't without making a huge scene. With her eyes still closed, her breath got choked up stopping her breathing for a second, while tears began sliding down her cheek from the stress. Continuing to cover her eyes, she ignored the roar of people, but knew she had to break away. Slowly opening her eyes, she squinted looking for any slight exit from the group. Noticing her eyes were in a glaze people wouldn't stop taking pictures of her current situation.

Suddenly as Sonny searched through the paparazzi, she heard the sound of a car pull up to the curb on the opposite side of the restaurant, slamming the door shut, then everything to Sonny appeared in slow down. One of guys taking her pictures to sell abruptly grabbed a strong hold of her forearm making her do a 180 so he could get a better shot. Sonny couldn't believe it! In all her years she never heard of the paparazzi actually having the right to touch you to get a quick snapshot. Trying to pull away, she knew that the next morning she would make it to the front cover of all the tabloids.

Unexpectedly, as Sonny got her arm back, she heard someone call out her name. Blinking back the rest of her tears, she turned to see a familiar someone pushing through the mob, telling them to "get out of the way!" She didn't know who because of all the flashes messing with her eyesight, the person took her by the arm closely to them self, walking away still shouting that everyone get out of the way. As Sonny was dragged away still not consciously understanding what had happened, she was in a daze just staring at the person in front of her. Soon she saw a glint of the same sandy blonde hair she used to see every day when she was a teenager. She couldn't believe it.

Still being pulled, she found her strength saying, "It's okay, I got it now. I can walk."

Chad walked over to the passenger side of the door and opened it for her as she looked at him with a weird expression, but got in anyway because it was the only way to avoid more photos.

Chad walked to his side of the car after he shut Sonny's door for her and slide into the driver's seat. Turning on the ignition, Chad finally faced her with a partial smile, "So… where to?"

Sonny couldn't believe her eyes anymore. She was trapped in a mob, about to give up hope, and the guy she hasn't associated with for about five years shows up to help. She was taken aback; she just couldn't understand why he had to show up. She was grateful, yes, but she didn't know what to think.

Sonny just muttered, "Just take me to my apartment; it's on nineteenth street…" Sonny looked out the window at the town in the middle of the night, contemplating whether or not she should talk to him, but he chose for her.

Chad looked to his side to see Sonny in deep thought, but he was never really one to be quiet. "How have things been going with you, you know, after the last season of So Random?" he asked trying to converse.

Sonny swiftly looked back at him just shrugging, "It's been going pretty good I guess you could say," She didn't know how to respond to him being all casual and finished, "With the movies, music and such."

He nodded in response knowingly how far she had got in her career after she left Condor studios. It was weird to think about how everyone went their separate ways to establish their sense of selves and careers. Chad wouldn't have ever guessed that his life would be quite like this, five years ago.

Thinking about the old days back at Condors Studios, Chad smiled to himself about how he used to act. After he turned twenty and he was at a low point in his career he managed to shape up, or his manager threatened to cut him loose until he was nothing again. Chad had no other choice but to turn his life around, although he could still occasionally be selfish and a jerk.

Chad started to slow down at a yellow light coming to a complete stop making the car jolt forward a little. Sonny glanced at Chad for a moment, and then looked away. She noticed that there was something very different about him, especially after they went out for a bit after her show ended. He seemed calmer, less tense, she mused tracing his shoulders to his arms that grabbed the stirring wheel.

The light soon turned green, and Chad continued down the cities streets. Trying to start more conversation, Chad suddenly spoke clearing his throat, "I still can't believe how long it's been since I last saw you. I mean the last time we spoke even. It's been what…five, almost six years?" he said rhetorically, "wow, it felt like yesterday we were both on our last seasons for our shows, auditioning for more roles."

Sonny just nodded halfheartedly, because she really did agree, it was just she didn't know what to say to him. After their break up, she was planning to never see him again. She couldn't take it, looking at him! He acted like it never happened, she hated it, and she's never really hated anything before. Finally she asked the one thing on her mind, "How can you act like nothings happened?" Sonny looked right at Chad with the most serious expression.

Chad was a little stunned to hear this coming from her, "What are you talking about?" he questioned, furrowing his eye brows still looking straight at the road.

"You know what I'm talking about! I'm talking about us, don't act stupid." She almost yelled.

"See, I don't know what you're talking about because there is no us. Right now you're dating what's his face…Tristan Tate," Chad was getting way more confused, he knew he dated Sonny for a short period for it not to work out, but he thought she was over it by now and moved on, that's why he moved on, too, "Look, I'm sorry, but I know we had something…It's just that, I screwed everything up and I don't want to hear about it again, got it?" Chad finished starting to raise his voice.

In the passenger seat, Sonny stayed quiet thinking of way back when, when everything was less complicated. She cared for him, she just didn't know if it could ever be anything more ever again. Looking back at Chad she noticed that any of his composure he had a minute ago was gone, she almost felt bad for bringing anything up, she knew she shouldn't have talked, but she couldn't help it, he was the one trying to start a conversation.

Starting to get closer to her apartment building, one word had came to mind for the whole night that she thought would help Chad calm down, she glimpsed to she side seeing his concentrated face and expressed, "Thanks."

Chad immediately came back to reality hearing her simple "thank you." He could help but query, "for what?"

Sonny looked out the windshield thinking of a quick answer making up her mind, "For earlier… the paparazzi and the ride, you know."

Chad smiled, "You're welcome. I was just passing by and noticed you were in a struggle." Chad didn't actually realize she was happy he had helped, at first he thought she would rather still be caught by the photographers than be taken out of the scene with him. Earlier while he was headed home since it was close to one in the morning, he saw a group of people and just happened to notice Sonny in the middle of it all. So he decided to help even though tomorrow both will be on the front cover of all the tabloids. In the afternoon his publicist is going to be all over him. "Great," Chad thought sarcastically.

For the next few minutes neither one of them opted to speak once. They just kept passing by large building on the way getting to the edge of the city where Nineteenth Street would be. Nearing the road Sonny lived on Chad quickly asked, "Left or right?" for a sense of which direction her apartment building was.

Sonny looked both ways muttering, "Right," while Chad nodded, turning on his signal.

Approaching the building complex Chad pulled up to the curb across the street from the apartments and put the car in park.

Sonny had no other choice but to say something to break the silence. "Well, goodbye. Thanks again for the ride, or else I'd be taking a taxi at the moment," Sonny smiled gently unbuckling her seatbelt and started to open the car door. She gave one more smile to Chad while Chad just stared back stupidly. She closed the door shut and started to walk across the empty street, leaving Chad almost dumfounded still not in belief to anything that's happened.

Suddenly, as soon as she reached the side walk, Chad quickly yelled out, "Wait, Sonny," Chad took a breath, and rolled his window down all the way, "Sonny!"

She turned around as if she did it every day to people calling out to her desperately. "What?" she called with a questioned look.

Chad didn't want to say she looked annoyed, but it was something else he wasn't quite sure about, maybe she wanted to hear what he had to say. Chad looked up to her from his seat, "I was wondering, we should hang out some time," he stated instead of asking.

"I have a boyfriend, remember?" she shot back.

Chad rolled his eyes nicely, "I know, that's why I meant as friends, nothing more. We can catch up on old times, and you know I won't leave you alone until we hang out at least once."

Sonny knew he meant every word he said, it was just like him to pester her until she said yes, but then again she really didn't think it was a good idea to talk to him any more than she already was. "Chad, I'm sorry, but no."

"Come on," Chad pushed, "since when is it bad to hang out with old friends?"

It was Sonny's turn to roll her eyes, "Chad, really? I said no," she stated sternly this time.

Chad leaned out the window, "Friends," was all he said.

Sonny huffed, "No and I don't want to have to repeat myself."

"Friends," Chad affirmed, "That's all I'm asking."

Now Sonny was annoyed, this was just like Chad, "perfect," she mused sardonically. Sonny finally caved in, "You know what? Fine." She started, "But it's only once. I'll talk to you later, and you, call me," she demanded, walking away, waving goodbye annoyed.

Chad smiled to himself knowing that once again he still manages to drive Sonny up the walls. "Without even trying," he muttered to himself. He turned his signal on and pulled away from the curb starting off down the street.

Sonny stood at the apartment door looking out after Chad's car that had finally driven off. Sonny sighed thinking about how this will be like re-living five years ago. She didn't know if she should be happy or upset about it all. "We'll see," she said to herself pressing the elevator button to go upstairs.

So I had this idea one day, and it was originally going to be a one shot,but the story wouldn't exactally let me so it will probably have at least four chapters. It was pretty fun to write though, some parts harder than others. Anyway I hope it was good and should be getting a little better, I probably going to start writing the next chapter tonight or tomorrow, depends...

Also if you want to review, even if it's just to say "cool"...lol

Peace out!